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Thibodaux Police chase lasts to Amelia

Published: Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 2:07 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 2:07 p.m.

An Amelia man led police, deputies and troopers from Thibodaux all the way to Amelia on a chase, eventually to be caught and charged with a DWI, police said.

Thibodaux Police first tried to pull over Christian Morales, 26, 147 West Side Park, Apt. 147, when they saw him swerving about 11:30 p.m. Friday on Canal Boulevard at West 9th Street, the department said today in a news release.

Morales sped away on a chase that lasted mostly on U.S. 90 and included Morales crashing his car, Thibodaux Detective David Melancon said. State Police and Assumption sheriff's deputies also got involved.

Morales took the Amelia exit and raced around the area before trying to get back on U.S. 90, but he ran out of gas, Melancon said.

"I'm being honest, I'm intoxicated," Melancon said once in police custody.

At different times during the chase, Morales drove against the flow of traffic, sped over 25 mph over the speed limit and ran other drivers completely off the road, which increases his charge to aggravated flight from an officer, and not just flight from an officer, Melancon said.

Additionally, Morales is charged with first-offense DWI, swerving in the roadway, and three warrants for failure to appear for traffic offenses in Terrebonne and St. Mary parishes, records show. Morales remains in the Lafourche Parish jail in lieu of bonds totaling $107,650.

<p>An Amelia man led police, deputies and troopers from Thibodaux all the way to Amelia on a chase, eventually to be caught and charged with a DWI, police said.</p><p>Thibodaux Police first tried to pull over Christian Morales, 26, 147 West Side Park, Apt. 147, when they saw him swerving about 11:30 p.m. Friday on Canal Boulevard at West 9th Street, the department said today in a news release.</p><p>Morales sped away on a chase that lasted mostly on U.S. 90 and included Morales crashing his car, Thibodaux Detective David Melancon said. State Police and Assumption sheriff's deputies also got involved.</p><p>Morales took the Amelia exit and raced around the area before trying to get back on U.S. 90, but he ran out of gas, Melancon said.</p><p>"I'm being honest, I'm intoxicated," Melancon said once in police custody.</p><p>At different times during the chase, Morales drove against the flow of traffic, sped over 25 mph over the speed limit and ran other drivers completely off the road, which increases his charge to aggravated flight from an officer, and not just flight from an officer, Melancon said.</p><p>Additionally, Morales is charged with first-offense DWI, swerving in the roadway, and three warrants for failure to appear for traffic offenses in Terrebonne and St. Mary parishes, records show. Morales remains in the Lafourche Parish jail in lieu of bonds totaling $107,650.</p>